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Nicky Maynard feels ready to kick-start his Cardiff City career after injury and a productive loan spell at Wigan Athletic.

The striker has been on Cardiff’s books since 2012, but has seen a serious knee problem and competition at Premier League level severely limit his involvement.

He was allowed to link up with Wigan for the second half of the 2013/14 campaign, and made the most of his time at the DW Stadium as he got back on the goal trail.

I’ve been with Cardiff for two years, but haven’t done much in that time after being injured. Now it’s a new season, a new start.

Nicky Maynard

Maynard has now returned to Cardiff following their relegation back into the Sky Bet Championship and, rather than push for a permanent switch elsewhere, is determined to make his mark for a club that are yet to see the best of him.

The 27-year-old said: “It feels as though I have joined a new club and I can’t wait for the season to start.

“I haven’t played for Cardiff as much as I would have liked and this is a new start for me.

“The gaffer was tremendous, telling me to go out on loan last season, play regular first-team football and return for pre-season raring to go.

“I was a bit-part player before going to Wigan, but I’ve come back fitter than ever.

“I’ve been with Cardiff for two years, but haven’t done much in that time after being injured. Now it’s a new season, a new start.”

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Maynard said of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: “It’s the first time I have really worked with the gaffer and his staff because they came in January and I went on loan to Wigan soon after.

“I feel like a new player. I have to impress the gaffer, while I hadn’t played alongside Mats Daehil, Magnus Eikrem and others before this pre-season.

“I’m excited by the future. Cardiff were more of a defensive unit under Malky Mackay, while now we are more attack-minded, and for the strikers that’s fantastic.

“My main aims for the new season are to get on the score sheet as often as possible and out of the treatment room.”